AP PhotoPatriots coach Bill Belichick is thrilled to have Tom Brady as his quarterback for the next five seasons.

For a second, the air went out of Gillette Stadium.

When asked if there were any transactions to report during Friday's press conference, Patriots coach Bill Belichick answered with a stern ‘no’. But when pressed, he allowed a wry smile to come over his face as he confirmed that Tom Brady will, indeed, be the Patriots quarterback through the 2014 season.

And there was no one happier about the news than the man at the podium.

“Look, there’s no quarterback I’d rather have than Tom Brady,” Belichick said. “He does a great job for us in all phases of the game. And right now, Tom, myself and all the rest of us are trying to get ready for Cincinnati.”

That’s about the highest praise a player will ever get from Belichick.

Brady was signed to a four-year, $72 million extension that will kick in after this season. At $18 million per season, he's the highest-paid player in NFL history.